Exorcisms used for treatment of urinary tract diseases in Greece during the Middle Ages and Renaissance

Using an unpublished 16th century manuscript as a pilot case, we examined the role of the formal Christian rituals and of hybrid semi-Christian semi-pagan exorcistic writings in curing renal ailments. It was found that in spite of the changing religious and cultural orthodoxy in the lands around the Eastern Mediterranean Basin, people did adhere to their belief in divine intervention when they were suffering from renal and/or other afflictions. We traced the origin of these beliefs at least to the preclassical period, and its continuation well beyond the Renaissance. The same practice applied both to nephrological diseases of humans (clergy and laymen alike) and of animals. We also present several interesting works of art from the palaeo-Christian to the post-Byzantine era supporting our theses.